JP2012079487A - Solid oxide fuel cell apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a solid oxide fuel cell apparatus capable of preventing local overheating in a reformer.SOLUTION: The solid oxide fuel cell apparatus comprises: a cell stack comprising a plurality of fuel cells; a reformer; a combustor for burning a fuel gas exhausted from the fuel cells to heat the reformer by the combustion heat; an igniter for igniting the combustor; combustion state detecting means for detecting ignition proceeding between the fuel cells in the combustor and the beginning of heating the entire reformer; and control means. The solid oxide fuel cell apparatus starts up while applying the combustion heat from the combustor and the reaction heat of partial oxidation reforming reaction in the reformer to the reformer. The control means conducts an operation while inhibiting the heating value of the partial oxidation reforming reaction in the reformer until the beginning of heating the entire reformer is detected by the combustion state detecting means after the ignition of the combustor by the igniter.

Description

  The present invention relates to a solid oxide fuel cell device, and more particularly to a solid oxide fuel cell device capable of suppressing an excessive temperature rise at startup.

  Conventionally, in a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), fuel gas discharged from a plurality of fuel cells is combusted at startup, and the reformer heats the reformer while heating the reformer with the combustion heat. It is known that a partial oxidation reforming reaction (POX), autothermal reforming reaction (ATR), and steam reforming reaction (SR) are sequentially performed according to each startup stage to raise the temperature of the reformer and the like. Yes.

In such a fuel cell, an ignition device such as an ignition heater or an igniter ignites the fuel gas discharged from the fuel cell and starts combustion.
However, it is not practical to provide an ignition device for all of the plurality of fuel cells because of cost and the like. For this reason, only the fuel gas discharged from a part of the fuel cells is ignited by the ignition device, and after that, it is transferred to the adjacent cells, so that all the fuel cells are finally On the other hand, ignition is performed (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).

JP 2008-135268 A

  However, there may be a case where it takes a long time to complete the ignition of all the fuel cells, because the fire transfer between adjacent fuel cells is not performed smoothly. In this way, in a state where only some of the fuel cells are ignited and other fuel cells are not ignited, the fuel gas and reforming air having the same flow rate as normal are supplied to the reformer. When the partial oxidation reforming reaction is caused, the entire reformer is not heated but is locally heated, and the reformer is damaged.

The reason is described below. A partial oxidation reaction, which is an exothermic reaction, occurs inside the reformer, but the partial oxidation reaction is most likely at the part where the fuel gas supplied into the reformer first contacts the high-temperature catalyst (usually the fuel gas inlet part). Since it tends to occur, an exothermic reaction occurs locally within the reformer. At that time, if the fire transfer is completed, the entire reformer is heated from the outside by the combustion heat from the combustion section. Although the temperature is higher than that of the portion, the temperature of the entire reformer rises and there is no local overheating.
On the other hand, if the fire transfer is not completed, heating of the reformer from the outside by the combustor becomes local, and an exothermic reaction in the reformer also occurs locally in the part. Therefore, if the state continues, the temperature rises only in a part of the reformer, resulting in damage to the reformer due to local overheating.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and prevents local overheating in the reformer even in the case where time is required for completion of burning. An object of the present invention is to provide a solid oxide fuel cell device which can be realized.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a cell stack formed by combining a plurality of fuel cells in a solid oxide fuel cell device, and a fuel that reforms a raw material gas and supplies the fuel cells to the cell stack. A reformer that generates gas, a combustion section that burns the fuel gas discharged from the fuel battery cell, and heats the reformer by the combustion heat; and an ignition device that ignites the combustion section; A combustion state confirming means for detecting that the burning of the fuel cells proceeds in the combustion section and heating of the entire reformer is started, and a control means, and the combustion section And the heat of the partial oxidation reforming reaction in the reformer is started while heating the reformer, and the control means uses the ignition device to ignite the combustion section. After igniting In a period until it is detected by the combustion state confirmation means that the heating of the entire reformer is started, the operation is performed in a state where the heat generation amount of the partial oxidation reforming reaction in the reformer is suppressed. It is characterized by being composed.

  In the present invention, by adopting such a configuration, the period until it is detected by the combustion state confirmation means that the heating of the entire reformer is started, that is, the fire transfer is not yet completed, In the period when the heating of the reformer from the section is only local, the operation is performed with the calorific value of the partial oxidation reforming reaction in the reformer being suppressed. Heat generation is suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the reformer from being overheated locally.

  In the present invention, preferably, in the period until the combustion state confirmation means detects that the heating of the entire reformer is started, the supply amount of the raw material gas, the supply amount of reforming air, By reducing at least one of them, it is configured to operate in a state in which the calorific value of the partial oxidation reforming reaction in the reformer is suppressed.

  By adopting such a configuration, during a period when the heating of the reformer from the combustion section is only local, at least one of the supply amount of the raw material gas and the supply amount of reforming air is changed. By the simple control of reducing, the calorific value of the partial oxidation reforming reaction in the reformer can be suppressed. As a result, it is possible to prevent the reformer from being overheated locally.

  In the present invention, preferably, the combustion state confirmation unit detects that the heating of the entire reformer is started by the temperature of the combustion section.

  By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to reliably detect without error whether or not the heating of the entire reformer has been started by measuring the temperature of the combustion section which is a heating source from the outside of the reformer. it can.

  In the present invention, preferably, the combustion state confirmation means is reformer temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the reformer, and detects the temperature of the combustion section based on the temperature of the reformer. It is characterized by.

  With this configuration, the heating of the entire reformer is directly detected by the temperature of the reformer that is the heating target, so that the heating of the entire reformer is started by the combustion state confirmation unit. It is possible to reliably detect whether or not has started.

  In the present invention, preferably, the combustion state confirmation means detects an inlet temperature and an outlet temperature of the reformer, and the control means ignites the combustion section by the ignition device. After that, when both the inlet temperature and the outlet temperature of the reformer are equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature, it is detected that heating of the entire reformer is started.

  By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to directly detect that the fire transfer between the fuel cells progresses and the temperature rise of the reformer is started not locally but as a whole. An appropriate timing for releasing the suppression of the calorific value of the partial oxidation reforming reaction in the chamber can be accurately achieved.

  According to the solid oxide fuel cell device of the present invention, it is possible to prevent local overheating in the reformer even when time is required for transfer.

1 is an overall configuration diagram showing a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a front cross-sectional view showing a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) fuel cell module according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which follows the III-III line of FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a single fuel cell of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view showing a fuel cell stack of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a time chart which shows the operation | movement at the time of starting of the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a time chart which shows the operation | movement at the time of operation stop of the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) by one Embodiment of this invention. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of starting a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Next, a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) according to an embodiment (first embodiment) of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a fuel cell module 2 and an auxiliary unit 4.

  The fuel cell module 2 includes a housing 6, and a sealed space 8 is formed inside the housing 6 via a heat insulating material (not shown, but the heat insulating material is not an essential component and may not be necessary). Is formed. In addition, you may make it not provide a heat insulating material. A fuel cell assembly 12 that performs a power generation reaction with fuel gas and an oxidant (air) is disposed in a power generation chamber 10 that is a lower portion of the sealed space 8. The fuel cell assembly 12 includes ten fuel cell stacks 14 (see FIG. 5), and the fuel cell stack 14 includes 16 fuel cell unit 16 (see FIG. 4). Yes. Thus, the fuel cell assembly 12 has 160 fuel cell units 16, and all of these fuel cell units 16 are connected in series.

A combustion part 18 is formed above the above-described power generation chamber 10 in the sealed space 8 of the fuel cell module 2, and in this combustion part 18, residual fuel gas and residual oxidant (air) that have not been used for the power generation reaction. ) And the exhaust gas is generated.
Further, a reformer 20 for reforming the fuel gas is disposed above the combustion section 18, and the reformer 20 is heated to a temperature at which a reforming reaction can be performed by the combustion heat of the residual gas. ing.
Further, an air heat exchanger 22 for receiving combustion heat and heating air is disposed above the reformer 20.

  Next, the auxiliary unit 4 stores a pure water tank 26 that stores water from a water supply source 24 such as tap water and uses the filter to obtain pure water, and a water flow rate that adjusts the flow rate of the water supplied from the water storage tank. An adjustment unit 28 (such as a “water pump” driven by a motor) is provided. The auxiliary unit 4 also includes a gas shut-off valve 32 that shuts off the fuel gas supplied from a fuel supply source 30 such as city gas, a desulfurizer 36 for removing sulfur from the fuel gas, and a flow rate of the fuel gas. A fuel flow rate adjusting unit 38 (such as a “fuel pump” driven by a motor) is provided. Further, the auxiliary unit 4 includes an electromagnetic valve 42 that shuts off air that is an oxidant supplied from the air supply source 40, a reforming air flow rate adjusting unit 44 that adjusts the air flow rate, and a power generation air flow rate adjusting unit 45 (such as an “air blower” driven by a motor), a first heater 46 for heating the reforming air supplied to the reformer 20, and a second for heating the power generating air supplied to the power generation chamber And a heater 48. The first heater 46 and the second heater 48 are provided in order to efficiently raise the temperature at startup, but may be omitted.

Next, a hot water production apparatus 50 to which exhaust gas is supplied is connected to the fuel cell module 2. The hot water production apparatus 50 is supplied with tap water from the water supply source 24, and the tap water is heated by the heat of the exhaust gas and supplied to a hot water storage tank of an external hot water heater (not shown).
The fuel cell module 2 is provided with a control box 52 for controlling the amount of fuel gas supplied and the like.
Furthermore, the fuel cell module 2 is connected to an inverter 54 that is a power extraction unit (power conversion unit) for supplying the power generated by the fuel cell module to the outside.

Next, the internal structure of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) fuel cell module according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) fuel cell module according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. .
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in the sealed space 8 in the housing 6 of the fuel cell module 2, as described above, the fuel cell assembly 12, the reformer 20, and the air heat exchange are sequentially performed from below. A vessel 22 is arranged.

  The reformer 20 is provided with a pure water introduction pipe 60 for introducing pure water and a reformed gas introduction pipe 62 for introducing reformed fuel gas and reforming air to the upstream end side thereof. In addition, in the reformer 20, an evaporation unit 20a and a reforming unit 20b are formed in order from the upstream side, and the reforming unit 20b is filled with a reforming catalyst. The fuel gas and air mixed with the steam (pure water) introduced into the reformer 20 are reformed by the reforming catalyst filled in the reformer 20. As the reforming catalyst, a catalyst obtained by imparting nickel to the alumina sphere surface or a catalyst obtained by imparting ruthenium to the alumina sphere surface is appropriately used.

  A fuel gas supply pipe 64 is connected to the downstream end side of the reformer 20, and the fuel gas supply pipe 64 extends downward and further in an manifold 66 formed below the fuel cell assembly 12. It extends horizontally. A plurality of fuel supply holes 64 b are formed in the lower surface of the horizontal portion 64 a of the fuel gas supply pipe 64, and the reformed fuel gas is supplied into the manifold 66 from the fuel supply holes 64 b.

  A lower support plate 68 having a through hole for supporting the fuel cell stack 14 described above is attached above the manifold 66, and the fuel gas in the manifold 66 flows into the fuel cell unit 16. Supplied.

  Next, an air heat exchanger 22 is provided above the reformer 20. The air heat exchanger 22 includes an air aggregation chamber 70 on the upstream side and two air distribution chambers 72 on the downstream side. The air aggregation chamber 70 and the air distribution chamber 72 include six air flow path tubes 74. Connected by. Here, as shown in FIG. 3, three air flow path pipes 74 form a set (74a, 74b, 74c, 74d, 74e, 74f), and the air in the air collecting chamber 70 is in each set. It flows into each air distribution chamber 72 from the air flow path pipe 74.

The air flowing through the six air flow path pipes 74 of the air heat exchanger 22 is preheated by the exhaust gas that burns and rises in the combustion section 18.
An air introduction pipe 76 is connected to each of the air distribution chambers 72, the air introduction pipe 76 extends downward, and the lower end side communicates with the lower space of the power generation chamber 10, and the air that has been preheated in the power generation chamber 10. Is introduced.

Next, an exhaust gas chamber 78 is formed below the manifold 66. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, an exhaust gas passage 80 extending in the vertical direction is formed inside the front surface 6 a and the rear surface 6 b which are surfaces along the longitudinal direction of the housing 6, and the upper end side of the exhaust gas passage 80 is formed. Is in communication with the space in which the air heat exchanger 22 is disposed, and the lower end side is in communication with the exhaust gas chamber 78.
Further, an exhaust gas discharge pipe 82 is connected to substantially the center of the lower surface of the exhaust gas chamber 78, and the downstream end of the exhaust gas discharge pipe 82 is connected to the above-described hot water producing apparatus 50 shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, an ignition device 83 for starting combustion of fuel gas and air is provided in the combustion unit 18.

Next, the fuel cell unit 16 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view showing a fuel cell unit of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 4, the fuel cell unit 16 includes a fuel cell 84 and inner electrode terminals 86 respectively connected to the vertical ends of the fuel cell 84.
The fuel cell 84 is a tubular structure extending in the vertical direction, and includes a cylindrical inner electrode layer 90 that forms a fuel gas flow path 88 therein, a cylindrical outer electrode layer 92, an inner electrode layer 90, and an outer side. An electrolyte layer 94 is provided between the electrode layer 92 and the electrode layer 92. The inner electrode layer 90 is a fuel electrode through which fuel gas passes and becomes a (−) electrode, while the outer electrode layer 92 is an air electrode in contact with air and becomes a (+) electrode.

  Since the inner electrode terminal 86 attached to the upper end side and the lower end side of the fuel cell 16 has the same structure, the inner electrode terminal 86 attached to the upper end side will be specifically described here. The upper portion 90 a of the inner electrode layer 90 includes an outer peripheral surface 90 b and an upper end surface 90 c exposed to the electrolyte layer 94 and the outer electrode layer 92. The inner electrode terminal 86 is connected to the outer peripheral surface 90b of the inner electrode layer 90 through a conductive sealing material 96, and is further in direct contact with the upper end surface 90c of the inner electrode layer 90, thereby Electrically connected. A fuel gas passage 98 communicating with the fuel gas passage 88 of the inner electrode layer 90 is formed at the center of the inner electrode terminal 86.

  The inner electrode layer 90 includes, for example, a mixture of Ni and zirconia doped with at least one selected from rare earth elements such as Ca, Y, and Sc, and Ni and ceria doped with at least one selected from rare earth elements. The mixture is formed of at least one of Ni and a mixture of lanthanum garade doped with at least one selected from Sr, Mg, Co, Fe, and Cu.

  The electrolyte layer 94 is, for example, zirconia doped with at least one selected from rare earth elements such as Y and Sc, ceria doped with at least one selected from rare earth elements, lanthanum gallate doped with at least one selected from Sr and Mg, Formed from at least one of the following.

  The outer electrode layer 92 includes, for example, lanthanum manganite doped with at least one selected from Sr and Ca, lanthanum ferrite doped with at least one selected from Sr, Co, Ni and Cu, Sr, Fe, Ni and Cu. It is formed from at least one of lanthanum cobaltite doped with at least one selected from the group consisting of silver and silver.

Next, the fuel cell stack 14 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a fuel cell stack of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 5, the fuel cell stack 14 includes 16 fuel cell units 16, and the lower end side and the upper end side of these fuel cell units 16 are a ceramic lower support plate 68 and an upper side, respectively. It is supported by the support plate 100. The lower support plate 68 and the upper support plate 100 are formed with through holes 68a and 100a through which the inner electrode terminal 86 can pass.

  Furthermore, a current collector 102 and an external terminal 104 are attached to the fuel cell unit 16. The current collector 102 includes a fuel electrode connection portion 102a that is electrically connected to an inner electrode terminal 86 attached to the inner electrode layer 90 that is a fuel electrode, and an entire outer peripheral surface of the outer electrode layer 92 that is an air electrode. And an air electrode connecting portion 102b electrically connected to each other. The air electrode connecting portion 102b is formed of a vertical portion 102c extending in the vertical direction on the surface of the outer electrode layer 92 and a plurality of horizontal portions 102d extending in a horizontal direction along the surface of the outer electrode layer 92 from the vertical portion 102c. Has been. The fuel electrode connection portion 102a is linearly directed obliquely upward or obliquely downward from the vertical portion 102c of the air electrode connection portion 102b toward the inner electrode terminal 86 positioned in the vertical direction of the fuel cell unit 16. It extends.

  Further, the inner electrode terminals 86 at the upper end and the lower end of the two fuel cell units 16 located at the ends of the fuel cell stack 14 (the far left side and the near side in FIG. 5) are external terminals, respectively. 104 is connected. These external terminals 104 are connected to the external terminals 104 (not shown) of the fuel cell unit 16 at the end of the adjacent fuel cell stack 14, and as described above, the 160 fuel cell units 16 Everything is connected in series.

Next, sensors and the like attached to the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 6, the solid oxide fuel cell 1 includes a control unit 110, and the control unit 110 includes operation buttons such as “ON” and “OFF” for operation by the user. An operation device 112, a display device 114 for displaying various data such as a power generation output value (wattage), and a notification device 116 for issuing a warning (warning) in an abnormal state are connected.
The notification device 116 may be connected to a remote management center and notify the management center of an abnormal state.

Next, signals from various sensors described below are input to the control unit 110.
First, the combustible gas detection sensor 120 is for detecting a gas leak, and is attached to the fuel cell module 2 and the auxiliary unit 4.
The CO detection sensor 122 detects whether or not CO in the exhaust gas originally discharged to the outside through the exhaust gas passage 80 or the like leaks to an external housing (not shown) that covers the fuel cell module 2 and the auxiliary unit 4. Is to do.
The hot water storage state detection sensor 124 is for detecting the temperature and amount of hot water in a water heater (not shown).

The power state detection sensor 126 is for detecting the current and voltage of the inverter 54 and the distribution board (not shown).
The power generation air flow rate detection sensor 128 is for detecting the flow rate of power generation air supplied to the power generation chamber 10.
The reforming air flow sensor 130 is for detecting the flow rate of the reforming air supplied to the reformer 20.
The fuel flow sensor 132 is for detecting the flow rate of the fuel gas supplied to the reformer 20.

The water flow rate sensor 134 is for detecting the flow rate of pure water (steam) supplied to the reformer 20.
The water level sensor 136 is for detecting the water level of the pure water tank 26.
The pressure sensor 138 is for detecting the pressure on the upstream side outside the reformer 20.
The exhaust temperature sensor 140 is for detecting the temperature of the exhaust gas flowing into the hot water production apparatus 50.

As shown in FIG. 3, the power generation chamber temperature sensor 142 is provided on the front side and the back side in the vicinity of the fuel cell assembly 12, and detects the temperature in the vicinity of the fuel cell stack 14 to thereby detect the fuel cell stack. 14 (ie, the fuel cell 84 itself) is estimated.
The combustion part temperature sensor 144 is for detecting the temperature of the combustion part 18.
The exhaust gas chamber temperature sensor 146 is for detecting the temperature of the exhaust gas in the exhaust gas chamber 78.
The reformer inlet temperature sensor 148 is for detecting the inlet temperature of the reformer 20, and the reformer outlet temperature sensor 149 is for detecting the outlet temperature of the reformer 20.
The outside air temperature sensor 150 is for detecting the temperature of the outside air when the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is disposed outdoors. Further, a sensor for measuring the humidity or the like of the outside air may be provided.

Signals from these sensors are sent to the control unit 110, and the control unit 110, based on data based on these signals, the water flow rate adjustment unit 28, the fuel flow rate adjustment unit 38, the reforming air flow rate adjustment unit 44, A control signal is sent to the power generation air flow rate adjusting unit 45 to control each flow rate in these units.
Further, the control unit 110 sends a control signal to the inverter 54 to control the power supply amount.

Next, referring to FIGS. 7 and 9, the operation at the time of startup by the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 7 is a time chart showing the operation at the start-up of the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of starting the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) according to the embodiment of the present invention.
Initially, in order to warm the fuel cell module 2, the operation is started in a no-load state, that is, in a state where a circuit including the fuel cell module 2 is opened. At this time, since no current flows through the circuit, the fuel cell module 2 does not generate power.

First, reforming air is supplied from the reforming air flow rate adjustment unit 44 to the reformer 20 of the fuel cell module 2 via the first heater 46. At the same time, the power generation air is supplied from the power generation air flow rate adjustment unit 45 to the air heat exchanger 22 of the fuel cell module 2 via the second heater 48, and this power generation air is supplied to the power generation chamber 10 and the combustion chamber. Part 18 is reached.
Immediately after this, the fuel gas is also supplied from the fuel flow rate adjustment unit 38, and the fuel gas mixed with the reforming air passes through the reformer 20, the fuel cell stack 14, and the fuel cell unit 16, and It reaches the combustion section 18.

  Next, the ignition device 83 is ignited to burn the fuel gas and air (reforming air and power generation air) in the combustion section 18. Exhaust gas is generated by the combustion of the fuel gas and air, and the power generation chamber 10 is warmed by the exhaust gas, and when the exhaust gas rises in the sealed space 8 of the fuel cell module 2, The fuel gas containing the reforming air is warmed, and the power generation air in the air heat exchanger 22 is also warmed.

If it is confirmed that the ignition has occurred due to the rise in the temperature of the combustion section, the fuel flow rate supplied to the reformer 20 and the reforming air flow rate are changed by the operations of the fuel flow rate adjusting unit 38 and the reforming air flow rate adjusting unit 44. Reduced (step S11).
Thus, the state where the fuel flow rate and the reforming air flow rate are reduced continues until the detected temperatures of the reformer inlet temperature sensor 148 and the reformer outlet temperature sensor 149 exceed 300 ° C. and 250 ° C., respectively. (Step S12, Step S13). By controlling in this way, the progress of the partial oxidation reforming reaction POX shown in Formula (1) is suppressed. Since the partial oxidation reforming reaction POX is an exothermic reaction, the temperature increase of the reformer 20 is suppressed by suppressing the partial oxidation reforming reaction POX.

_{C m H n + xO 2 →} aCO 2 + bCO + cH 2 (1)

  Thereafter, when the fire transfer in the combustion unit 18 proceeds, the entire reformer 20 is heated by the heat from the combustion unit 18. When it is confirmed that the detected temperatures of the reformer inlet temperature sensor 148 and the reformer outlet temperature sensor 149 exceed 300 ° C. and 250 ° C., respectively (step S14, step S15), that is, from the combustion unit 18. The fuel flow rate supplied to the reformer 20 by the operation of the fuel flow rate adjustment unit 38 and the reforming air flow rate adjustment unit 44 when it is detected that the heating of the entire reformer 20 has been started by the combustion heat of And the reforming air flow rate is increased (step S16). In this embodiment, the reformer inlet temperature sensor 148 and the reformer outlet temperature sensor 149 correspond to the combustion state confirmation unit.

  As a result of increasing the flow rate of fuel supplied to the reformer 20 and the flow rate of reforming air, the calorific value of the partial oxidation reforming reaction POX is increased. The reformer 20 is sufficiently heated from the inside, and the startability is improved. Further, the heated fuel gas is supplied to the lower side of the fuel cell stack 14 through the fuel gas supply pipe 64, whereby the fuel cell stack 14 is heated from below, and the combustion unit 18 also has the fuel gas and air. The fuel cell stack 14 is also heated from above, and as a result, the fuel cell stack 14 can be heated substantially uniformly in the vertical direction. Even if the partial oxidation reforming reaction POX proceeds, the combustion reaction between the fuel gas and air continues in the combustion section 18.

  When the reformer temperature sensor 148 detects that the reformer 20 has reached a predetermined temperature (for example, 600 ° C.) after the partial oxidation reforming reaction POX is started, the water flow rate adjustment unit 28 and the fuel flow rate adjustment unit 38 are detected. In addition, the reforming air flow rate adjusting unit 44 supplies a gas in which fuel gas, reforming air, and water vapor are mixed in advance to the reformer 20. At this time, in the reformer 20, an autothermal reforming reaction ATR in which the partial oxidation reforming reaction POX described above and a steam reforming reaction SR described later are used proceeds. Since the autothermal reforming reaction ATR is thermally balanced internally, the reaction proceeds in the reformer 20 in a thermally independent state. That is, when oxygen (air) is large, heat generation by the partial oxidation reforming reaction POX is dominant, and when there is much steam, an endothermic reaction by the steam reforming reaction SR is dominant. At this stage, the initial stage of startup has already passed, and the temperature inside the power generation chamber 10 has been raised to a certain temperature. Therefore, even if the endothermic reaction is dominant, no significant temperature drop is caused. Further, even when the autothermal reforming reaction ATR is in progress, the combustion reaction continues in the combustion section 18.

  When the reformer temperature sensor 146 detects that the reformer 20 has reached a predetermined temperature (for example, 700 ° C.) after the start of the autothermal reforming reaction ATR shown in Formula (2), the reforming air flow rate The supply of reforming air by the adjustment unit 44 is stopped, and the supply of water vapor by the water flow rate adjustment unit 28 is increased. As a result, the reformer 20 is supplied with a gas that does not contain air and contains only fuel gas and water vapor, and the steam reforming reaction SR of formula (3) proceeds in the reformer 20.

_{C m H n + xO 2 +} yH 2 O → aCO 2 + bCO + cH 2 (2)
C _m H _n + xH ₂ O → aCO ₂ + bCO + cH ₂ (3)

  Since this steam reforming reaction SR is an endothermic reaction, the reaction proceeds while maintaining a heat balance with the combustion heat from the combustion section 18. At this stage, since the fuel cell module 2 is in the final stage of start-up, the power generation chamber 10 is heated to a sufficiently high temperature. Therefore, even if the endothermic reaction proceeds, the power generation chamber 10 is greatly reduced in temperature. There is nothing. Further, even if the steam reforming reaction SR proceeds, the combustion reaction continues in the combustion section 18.

  In this way, after the fuel cell module 2 is ignited by the ignition device 83, the partial oxidation reforming reaction POX, the autothermal reforming reaction ATR, and the steam reforming reaction SR proceed in sequence, so that the inside of the power generation chamber 10 The temperature gradually increases. Next, when the temperature in the power generation chamber 10 and the fuel cell 84 reaches a predetermined power generation temperature lower than the rated temperature at which the fuel cell module 2 is stably operated, the circuit including the fuel cell module 2 is closed, and the fuel cell Power generation by the module 2 is started, so that a current flows in the circuit. Due to the power generation of the fuel cell module 2, the fuel cell 84 itself also generates heat, and the temperature of the fuel cell 84 also rises. As a result, the rated rated temperature at which the fuel cell module 2 is operated becomes, for example, 600 ° C. to 800 ° C.

  Thereafter, in order to maintain the rated temperature, more fuel gas and air than the amount of fuel gas and air consumed in the fuel cell 84 are supplied, and combustion in the combustion unit 18 is continued. During power generation, power generation proceeds in a steam reforming reaction SR with high reforming efficiency.

Next, the operation when the operation of the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) according to the present embodiment is stopped will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a time chart showing the operation when the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is stopped according to this embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 8, when the operation of the fuel cell module 2 is stopped, first, the fuel flow rate adjustment unit 38 and the water flow rate adjustment unit 28 are operated to supply fuel gas and water vapor to the reformer 20. Reduce the amount.

  Further, when the operation of the fuel cell module 2 is stopped, the amount of fuel gas and water vapor supplied to the reformer 20 is reduced, and at the same time, the fuel cell module for generating air by the reforming air flow rate adjusting unit 44 The supply amount into 2 is increased, the fuel cell assembly 12 and the reformer 20 are cooled by air, and these temperatures are lowered. Thereafter, when the temperature of the power generation chamber decreases to a predetermined temperature, for example, 400 ° C., the supply of fuel gas and steam to the reformer 20 is stopped, and the steam reforming reaction SR of the reformer 20 is ended. This supply of power generation air continues until the temperature of the reformer 20 decreases to a predetermined temperature, for example, 200 ° C., and when this temperature is reached, the power generation air from the power generation air flow rate adjustment unit 45 is supplied. Stop supplying.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when the operation of the fuel cell module 2 is stopped, the steam reforming reaction SR by the reformer 20 and the cooling by the power generation air are used in combination. The operation of the fuel cell module can be stopped.

1 Solid oxide fuel cell system (SOFC)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 Fuel cell module 4 Auxiliary machine unit 10 Power generation chamber 12 Fuel cell assembly 14 Fuel cell stack 16 Fuel cell unit 18 Combustion part 20 Reformer 22 Air heat exchanger 28 Water flow rate adjustment unit 38 Fuel flow rate adjustment unit 44 reforming air flow rate adjustment unit 45 power generation air flow rate adjustment unit 54 inverter 83 ignition device 84 fuel cell 110 control unit 144 combustion unit temperature sensor

Claims (5)

In the solid oxide fuel cell device,
A cell stack formed by combining a plurality of fuel cells,
A reformer for reforming a raw material gas and generating a fuel gas to be supplied to the fuel cell;
A combustion section for combusting the fuel gas discharged from the fuel battery cell and heating the reformer by the combustion heat;
An ignition device for igniting the combustion section;
Combustion state confirmation means for detecting that the burning of the fuel cells proceeds in the combustion section and heating of the entire reformer is started,
Control means, and
Starting while heating the reformer by the combustion heat of the combustion section and the reaction heat of the partial oxidation reforming reaction in the reformer,
In the period from when the ignition device ignites the combustion section to when it is detected by the combustion state confirmation means that heating of the entire reformer is started, the control means A solid oxide fuel cell device configured to operate in a state in which a calorific value of a partial oxidation reforming reaction in the vessel is suppressed.   At least one of the supply amount of the raw material gas and the supply amount of reforming air is reduced in a period until it is detected by the combustion state confirmation means that the heating of the entire reformer is started. The solid oxide fuel cell device according to claim 1, wherein the solid oxide fuel cell device is configured to operate in a state in which a calorific value of the partial oxidation reforming reaction in the reformer is suppressed. .   3. The solid oxide fuel cell device according to claim 2, wherein the combustion state confirmation unit detects that heating of the entire reformer is started by a temperature of the combustion unit.   The combustion state confirmation means is reformer temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the reformer, and detects the temperature of the combustion section based on the temperature of the reformer. 4. The solid oxide fuel cell device according to 3.   The combustion state confirmation means detects an inlet temperature and an outlet temperature of the reformer, and the control means ignites the combustion section by the ignition device, and then the reformer The solid oxide form according to claim 4, wherein it is detected that heating of the entire reformer is started when both of the inlet temperature and the outlet temperature of the catalyst become equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature. Fuel cell device.

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